1841 in New Zealand explained

The following lists events that happened during in New Zealand.

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1841 is 78,400 Māori and 5000 non-Māori.^[1]

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor of New South Wales – Sir George Gipps (overall responsibility for New Zealand until 3 May)
• Governor – Captain William Hobson (Lieutenant- Governor until 3 May then Governor)

Government and law

• Chief Justice – William Martin is appointed the first Chief Justice of New Zealand on 5 February, but does not arrive in New Zealand until August.

Events

• 31 March: The William Bryan arrives at Taranaki from Plymouth, bearing 148 settlers to found New Plymouth.^[2]
• March: Captain Rhodes builds the first wharf in Wellington, in front of his store on the Wellington waterfront.^{[3] [4]}
• 3 May: In anticipation of the Great Charter coming into force, William Hobson is sworn in as Governor of New Zealand.
• 1 July: The Colony of New Zealand comes into existence, a separate Crown colony from New South Wales.
• 10 July: The New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette begins publication. The newspaper lasts less than a year.^[5]
• 27 September: Foundation of a school for Catholic boys, the first school in Auckland.^{[6] [7] [8]}
• 29 October: the settler ship Brilliant arrives at Cornwallis, New Zealand from the British Isles— however, the passengers find bare land at the promised location of the settlement.^{[9] [10]}
• 8 November: The Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist begins publishing. It continues with some gaps until 1845.^[11]

Undated

• The Capital of New Zealand is moved from Okiato (Old Russell) to Auckland.
• The first recorded mining in New Zealand, as outcrops of manganese are mined on the coast of Kawau Island.^[12]
• George Selwyn is created the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand.

Sport

Horse racing

• January: A hurdle race is run in January at Te Aro Pā, Wellington.^[13]

Unknown date

• The Auckland Town Plate is contested at Epsom Downs.^[13] A committee of army officers and townspeople forms to control racing in Auckland (Epsom).^[13] (see also 1849).

Yachting

• January: The first sailing regatta in the country is held as part of Anniversary celebrations in Wellington.^[13]

Births

• 20 January (in England): William Steward, politician^[14]
• 28 February: John Duthie, politician and Mayor of Wellington
• 9 March (in Switzerland): Henry Suter, zoologist

Unknown date

• James McGowan, politician

Deaths

• 23 November: William Cornwallis Symonds, prominent early colonist

See also

• List of years in New Zealand
• Timeline of New Zealand history
• History of New Zealand
• Military history of New Zealand
• Timeline of the New Zealand environment
• Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

Notes and References

1. Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at Web site: Long-term data series . 14 March 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm . 5 March 2008 . dead ., in particular Web site: A1.1 Total population.xls . 14 March 2008 . Excel . https://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm . 5 March 2008 . dead .
2. Web site: Plymouths around the world . Plymouth City Council . 17 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080510065457/http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/pawnewzealand . 10 May 2008 . dead .
3. https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WarEarl-t1-body-d8-d9.html New Zealand Electronic Text Centre: The Exchange
4. https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WarEarl-t1-body-d21-d2.html New Zealand Electronic Text Centre: Early Wellington
5. Web site: Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century. Statistical publications 1840–2000. 12. PDF. Statistics New Zealand. https://web.archive.org/web/20071125112530/http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf. 25 November 2007.
6. A. G Butchers, Young New Zealand, Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd, Dunedin, 1929, pp. 124 – 126.
7. "Auckland's First Catholic School – And its Latest", Zealandia, Thursday, 26 January 1939, p. 5
8. E.R. Simmons, In Cruce Salus, A History of the Diocese of Auckland 1848 – 1980, Catholic Publication Centre, Auckland 1982, pp. 53 and 54.
9. 19. 2. 15–18. Redman. Julie. Auckland's first settlement at Cornwallis 1835-1860. New Zealand Legacy. 2007.
10. Web site: Manukau's Journey. Kura. Auckland Libraries. 9 September 2021.
11. Web site: Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century. PDF. 11. Statistical Publications 1840–2000. Statistics New Zealand. https://web.archive.org/web/20071125112530/http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf. 25 November 2007.
12. Book: Dunmore. Patricia. The Dunmore Book of New Zealand Records. 1977. 0-908564-08-2. 21.
13. Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications.
14. http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/111BA750-DACF-460F-86D8-1EBEAEBA50D2/18726/formerspeakers3.pdf Biographies of former speakers – NZ Parliament